Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, visited Ellisland Museum and Farm in Dumfriesshire on Wednesday 12 August to hear about plans to transform the site into one of Scotland’s leading cultural tourism destinations.
Ellisland, six miles north of Dumfries, is the only home Robert Burns ever built, and is considered his most authentic surviving home. He farmed here from 1788 to 1791, calling it his “sweet poetic ground”. In the time he lived here he wrote 130 poems and songs, more than a quarter of his life’s work, including Tam o Shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
Burns is one of Scotland’s strongest international cultural brands, contributing over £200 million to the Scottish economy every year, with around £155 million of that from tourism, according to research by Professor Murray Pittock of the University of Glasgow, one of the world’s leading Burns scholars. His 2019 report identified Ellisland as having the potential to become a leading “magnet” attraction, drawing visitors into Dumfries and Galloway and encouraging them to stay longer and spend more across the region.
The Cabinet Secretary was given a tour of Ellisland by Project Curator Adam Dickson before hearing about the Trust’s “Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne” project, which will restore the at-risk listed buildings and open the site fully to the public as a year-round destination. An independent economic assessment found the completed project would deliver up to £1.5 million each year for the Dumfries and Galloway economy and support 65 jobs across the region.
Adam Dickson, Project Curator at Ellisland, said:
“Burns chose Ellisland for its inspirational qualities and it’s an extraordinarily significant place. It was a pleasure to share the site with the Cabinet Secretary and to show him how our young volunteers and researchers are helping to shape the stories Ellisland will tell.”
Tourism Secretary Stephen Flynn said:
“It was fascinating to visit Ellisland which contributes enormously to the story of Robert Burns. The artefacts and exhibitions offer a unique connection to Burns and particularly around the stories of Tam o Shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
“I was delighted to hear about Ellisland’s plans for the future including how young people are central to their work through initiatives such as the Burns Schools Competition poetry trail and the Museum Explorers Programme developed with Skills Development Scotland. The volunteer opportunities in collections research and visitor engagement, mean Ellisland is helping develop the next generation of heritage, tourism and museum professionals.”
Duncan Dornan, Chair of the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, said:
“Ellisland shows how heritage can work for Scotland’s economy by driving tourism, creating jobs and skills, and contributing to the long-term regeneration of communities. Burns has a truly international profile, and Ellisland’s potential to be the anchor destination that unlocks the full economic potential of Burns tourism across south west Scotland is one we are determined to realise.
“We are proud to be working alongside other organisations and tourism businesses in the Burns Tourism Partnership to encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more and explore further, and it was a pleasure to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Ellisland to discuss that tourism potential.”
